Building With the Future in Mind
Building Smarter.
Living Better.
Energy efficiency isn’t just about using less. It’s about creating a home that’s comfortable, durable and thoughtfully designed for the people who live there.
Thoughtful Homebuilding
Efficiency Should Be Part of the Home From the Beginning.
Building an energy-efficient home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing space, comfort or design. Thoughtful planning, quality materials, insulation, efficient equipment and smart design decisions can work together to create a home that simply performs better.
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Use Energy Wisely
Energy-efficient equipment, insulation and building practices can help reduce the amount of energy your home needs throughout the year.
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Think Long Term
Some efficiency upgrades may cost more initially, but thoughtful choices can help reduce ongoing energy use and operating costs over the life of the home.
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Live More Comfortably
Insulation, air quality, temperature control and material choices all contribute to how comfortable your home feels every day.
It Starts During Construction
A Better-Performing Home Starts Before You Move In.
Energy efficiency isn’t one product or one upgrade. It’s the result of hundreds of decisions made throughout the planning and construction process.
From insulation and equipment to windows, materials and the way the home interacts with its site, our team considers how those pieces work together.
Built for Iowa.
Our homes need to perform through hot summers, cold winters and everything Eastern Iowa weather brings in between.
HERS
ENERGY RATING
Measuring Energy Performance.
Navigate Homes uses the Home Energy Rating System, or HERS Index, as part of evaluating the energy efficiency of our homes. It gives homeowners another way to understand how their new home is designed to perform.
What We Pay Attention To
More Than Just an Energy Bill.
A well-designed home should balance efficiency with durability, comfort and everyday livability.
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Energy Efficiency
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Durable Materials
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Indoor Air Quality
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Views & Daylighting
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Temperature Comfort
Practical Sustainability
You Don’t Need a Label to Make Smart Choices.
A certified green home and an energy-efficient home aren’t necessarily the same thing. Certification involves specific standards, documentation and third-party verification.
Many homeowners simply want a comfortable, efficient home without pursuing a formal certification. Our goal is to help you determine which choices actually make sense for your home, your lifestyle and your budget.
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Choose What Matters
Focus your budget on features that provide meaningful value
to the way you live.
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Consider the Entire Home
Insulation, HVAC equipment, windows and materials all work
together as a system.
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Balance Cost and Benefit
Not every available upgrade makes sense for every homeowner,
home or budget.
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Plan Early
The best time to discuss efficiency goals is while your home
is still being planned.
Common Questions
Building Efficiently Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated.
Here are a few things homeowners commonly ask when they begin thinking about efficiency and sustainability.
Does an energy-efficient home need to be small?
No. Energy-efficient homes can come in many sizes and styles. The important part is considering how the home is designed, insulated, equipped and constructed—not simply its square footage.
Does the lot or home orientation matter?
It can. Sun exposure, shade, window placement, views and daylighting can all influence how a home feels and performs. These considerations are especially important if you’re interested in features such as solar energy.
What role does insulation play?
Insulation is an important part of helping a home maintain comfortable temperatures. It works together with the home’s air sealing, windows and heating and cooling equipment.
What about eco-friendly materials?
Material choices can affect durability, indoor air quality, maintenance and environmental impact. Our design team can help you evaluate available options and determine which products fit your goals and budget.
What’s the difference between efficient and certified green?
Green certification typically requires a specific rating program and third-party verification. A home can still incorporate energy-efficient equipment, thoughtful materials, insulation and other efficiency-focused features without pursuing a formal green certification.
Does building efficiently cost more?
It depends on the features and level of efficiency you choose. Some options increase the initial cost while others are already part of modern construction. We can help you compare priorities so your choices make sense for both your goals and your budget.
Build With Navigate
Let’s Build a Home That Works Better for You.
Tell us what’s important to you. Our team can help you explore the floor plan, homesite, materials and efficiency choices that make sense for the way you want to live.